Martin Luther King Junior’s

COURAGE FOR CHANGE

Eamon O’Brien – Mr. Patten’s 4th Period Religion 11

What is Courage?Before studying the courage

of an individual, it is necessary to know EXACTLY what courage is

Courage’s textbook definition is:

The ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation

There are other various definitions and specific types of courage; ex. Moral courage, physical courage, etc.

Courage the Cowardly dog is NOT the type of courage worth discussing.

Get him out of your head.

Common Misconceptions

Buff or extremely muscular individuals or almost always labeled courageous blindly

However, physical strength does not necessarily imply fortitude

Strength of the mind is what is necessary in order to be courageous and as will be seen in this presentation, MLK had exactly just that

Strong people are commonly associated with courage, which is a misconception as physical strength

does not imply fortitude.

MLK Jr. – The Man"We must constantly

build dikes of courage to hold back the flood

of fear“ - MLK

MLK was a courageous individual from the get-go

He attended school, where he undoubtedly encountered racial discrimination

He skipped two grades due to his intelligence and desire to make a difference quick

Martin Luther King Jr. was well known for his rhetoric and ability to

establish a bond with his audiences.

MLK’s Influences

MLK’s actions were heavily influenced by many courageous individuals

Mohandas Gandhi: protested British by means of non-violence

Howard Thurman: met with Gandhi and did missionary work abroad

Bayard Rustin: studied Gandhi’s teachings; advocated non-violence

These influences would all drive MLK to use civil disobedience as a means of protest

STATUS QUOAlthough it was nearly a century since the emancipation proclamation and the end of the civil war, the 1950s-1960s were filled with racist sentiments

Jim Crow Laws – enacted “separate but equal” status; legal segregation

Voting qualifications often restricted African Americans from voting

This would add fuel to MLK’s flame

Signs indicating segregated areas were common. African American facilities were often in far worse

condition than white ones, despite the supposed “separate but equal”

doctrine.

Montgomery Bus boycott

MLK’s first major public courageous action was when he supported a woman ignited a movement that would change history forever

Rosa Parks had refused to give her seat to a white man and was arrested as a result

MLK rallied up fellow African Americans to protest the segregation of the Montgomery Buses non-violentally

In response to Rosa Parks’ arrest, African Americans, rallied under MLK, protested the Montgomery buses and

walked to work, home, etc.

The protest was a success as segregation on the buses was ruled to be illegal.

Albany MovementThe Albany Movement was a desegregation coalition formed in Albany, Georgia

King got involved and was even arrested while peacefully protesting

King courageously declined bail until the city would make concessions

King returned to Albany a year later and was again arrested

After two weeks of trying to meet with the Albany city council, Martin

Luther King Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and 8 others kneeled to pray on the steps of the city hall. King and Abernathy were arrested and sent to jail for the third time.

Birmingham Campaign

The Birmingham campaign was a strategic effort by the SCLC to promote civil rights for African Americans

Its goal was to end the city's segregated civil and discriminatory economic policies.

MLK played a key role as he orchestrated and organized the non-violent protests

High school students are hit by a high-pressure water jet from a fire

hose during a protest in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.

King was jailed and it was then that he wrote the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,”; describing his civil disobedience

March on WashingtonA large political rally in support of civil and economic rights for African Americans that took place in Washington, D.C.

Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating racial harmony at the Lincoln Memorial during the march

The march is widely credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act; two pieces of legislation that improved the condition of African Americans

“Bloody Sunday”

Martin Luther again courageously supported and helped orchestrate the Selma to Montgomery marches

There were 3 marches, which marked the high point of the Civil Rights movement

The marches received a brutal government response

Alabama state troopers attack civil-rights demonstrators outside Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday, March

7, 1965.

In the first march, called “Bloody Sunday,” 600 civil rights activists were attacked by local government officials with tear gas, clubs, etc.

The death of a heroMLK was assassinated on March 29, 1968 by a man named James Earl Ray

MLK’s assassination led to a gloomy year and riots broke were prevalent

Although MLK’s public protests only lasted for about two decades, without them, it is likely that the Civil Rights movement would have moved along at a much slower pace

MLK will never be forgotten for his courage to take a stand in a society full of racism and prejudice

The Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated, is now the site of the

National Civil Rights Museum.

Overview of MLK’s Courage

Some may merely look at all of the aforementioned protests as just individuals complaining about the status quo, but they are more than that

MLK not only protested, but did so in a civil and non-violent way

This “civil disobedience” requires much more courage that brute force

MLK took a stand for what he believed in without fearing the consequences; this is the true definition of courage

Closing Without Martin Luther King Junior’s courage to fight racial prejudice, it is unlikely that the Civil Rights movement would have been as much of a success as it was

MLK’s courage was a catalyst for change and thus, he will be forever remembered

Courage requires one to continue despite limitations or dangers, like what MLK did in a society full of racism

MLK was arrested several times, but he knew what he was going was right“We must constantly build dikes of courage to hold

back the flood of fear.” – MLK

MAY HE BE REMEMBERED FOREVER FOR HIS COURAGE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE